Saturday, May 30, 2009

Our ward had an outing for the fathers and sons this weekend. We went camping at a place I haven't been since I was a teenager. During that trip we slept (and I use the term loosely) under a tornado and severe thunderstorm warning. With those old scout tents we had a river running from one end of the tent down the middle and out the other side. Wind, rain and hail were all pretty fierce.

This trip was picture perfect. The weather was gorgeous. The campsite was manicured and the lake was beautiful. Nathan and I went and took the kayak. We traded off taking it out. As I got in the first time I overbalanced and tipped it over in about 6 inches of water, filling it and my shoes with water and soaking myself. On a side note, I must have jammed my right hand ring finger because now it's swollen.

The rest of the campout was fine, no mishaps. I admit I did let a little fatherly worry wrinkle my brow as my youngest son took the kayak out to the middle of the lake by the dam and out of sight several times. I advised him beforehand that if it tipped over, just to get in it water and all. The kayak has foam inside both ends and will still float even if full of water, but he did fine.

The "fathers and sons" turned out to include many daughters too. Many of the dads brought all their kids or just daughters. It complicated the bathroom issue, but only slightly. It was a fun campout. We took Subway sandwiches for dinner and they cooked pancakes and Harry Potter sausages for breakfast.

That would have topped off the weekend fine except that my truck died about two blocks from the house and we had to push it back. I'm afraid it's the fuel pump. I'll have to have it seen about on Monday.

Monday, May 11, 2009

I've been shopping around for a kayak like this for a long time. It's an Oldtown Otter. They sell for $280 and up at a number of stores. I got a large amount of money and gift cards from my coworkers when I retired and have been shopping, but not finding any better price. Every Sunday I check the ads of Academy Sports and Gander Mountain. Sometimes they sell for about $50 less, but I've missed finding a sale.

Sunday I decided to check on Craigslist and there was a kayak listed, not an Otter, but a really good price at over $100 cheaper. I called the phone number early Monday morning and the man said someone had already called and probably wanted to buy it, but wouldn't know till he saw it at 6pm. When I called about 6:30pm the seller said the other guy did buy the kayak. He then asked if I had my heart set on that type of kayak. I said no, that I really wanted an Otter. He then said that his neighbor has 5 kayaks and wants to sell his nearly new Otter. Needless to say, I went over immediately and bought the kayak I originally wanted for almost half price.

I've still got most of the original money and a gift card to Academy Sports. It's starting to burn a hole in my pocket.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

There is a big issue going on in our city right now. People buy their alcohol out at "the strip." It's just outside the city limits on the highway south of town. Other options they have are to go to nearby towns which are within 5-10 miles away. Now the issue is on the ballet to allow alcohol sales inside the city limits. It's a no brainer for me to vote against this since I don't drink and don't think anyone else should either, but I had an interesting experience at a garage sale Saturday.

There was a pretty, young woman sitting at the garage sale. She was pretty, but not cute, with a hard, bitter look on her face. She was talking to another person there and said this:

"Of course I voted to allow liquor sales inside the city limits. Do you know how hard it is for a 16 year old to buy beer? They can't get to the strip and can't buy if they go. You have to get someone else to buy it for you. What a hassle. At least now that I'm 18 I can get a fake ID because I look old enough."

After that last sentence it was interesting to watch her expression as she saw my Deputy Sheriff belt buckle and quickly debated whether or not I was real in law enforcement.